Wire-stretcher.



No. 642,736. Patented Fab. 6, I900.

' H. W. WAGNER.

WIRE STBETGHER.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1899.),

(No Model.)

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PATENT HENRY W. WVAGNER,

OF ALMA, MISSOURI.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,736, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed April 24, 1899- To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY W. WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alma, in the county of Lafayette and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Wire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire-stretchers and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one adapted to be readily mounted on a fence-post for stretching wire, to be attached to the same, and capable of being readily applied to the ends of a broken wire and of drawing the same together, so that they may be readily connected.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire-stretcher constructed in accord ance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view illustrating the construction and arrangement of thelugs for engaging the links of the chain.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a substantially rectangular frame, preferably oblong and provided adjacent to one of its corners with arms 2 and 3, arranged at right angles to each other and adapted to fit and receive the corner of afence-post. The arm 3 is disposed transversely of the frame, and the arm 2, which is disposed longitudinally thereof, extends from one end of the same and is forked or bifurcated, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The frame is detachably secured to a fence-post by means of a chain 4, connected at one end to the arm 3, near the outer end thereof, by means of an enlarged link 5, and the other end of the chain is adapted to engage either one of a pair of lugs 6, located above and below the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The lugs 6,

which are slightly curved, are adapted to en- Serial No. 714,199. (No modeld gage any one of the links, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The frame is provided at its ends with guideopenings 7 and 8, in which slides a ratchetbar 9, provided at one end with a wire-engaging clamp 10. The inner face of the sliding ratchet-bar is provided with a longitudinal series of depressions or sockets 11, arranged at intervals and forming teeth. The sockets or depressions, which are shouldered at one end and beveled at the other, are preferably formed in a strip of sheet metal arranged on the inner face of the ratchet-bar, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The ratchet-bar is engaged by a. pivoted spring-actuated dog 12, carried by an operating-lever 13, which is fulcrumed near one end in an opening 14 of one side of the frame on a pivot 15, and its inner end is bifurcated for the reception of the dog 12. The dog is provided at one end with a tooth for engaging the ratchet-bar, and it is pivoted nearits other end by a fastening device 16. The pivoted end of the lever is provided with a perforated extension or car 17, to which is connected one end of a coiled spring 18, which has its other end secured to the operating-lever. The pawl or dog is located within the frame, and by reciprocating the operating-lever it is caused to engage the teeth or depressions successively.

The ratchet-bar is held against backward movement by a spring-actuated check-pawl 19, consisting of a beveled rod or bolt provided at its outer end with a suitable grip or handle 20, and the inner beveled end of the rod or bolt forms a tooth for engaging the ratchet-bar and is held in such engagement by a spring 21 of spiral form, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The wire-engaging clamp 10 consists of a plate or body and a cam-lever. The plate or body is provided at one side with a flange forming a stationary jaw, and the cam-lever 22, which cooperates with the said jaw, is provided with a flange 24, which overlaps the same to prevent a wire from slipping out of the device. The frame is provided with a wire-engaging device consisting of a jaw or lug 26 and a cam-lever 27, and by connecting the ends of a broken wire with the said wireengaging devices such wire may be stretched and its ends brought together and fastened,

When the device is mounted on a fence-post, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, the wires to be stretched are successively connected to the clamping device of the ratchet-bar, which is adapted to hold them while they are being stapled or otherwise secured to the fence-post.

The invention has the following advantages: The wire-stretcher, which possesses great strength and durability, is simple and inexpensive in construction, and it is adapted to be either mounted on a fence-post or other support or to be arranged to operate between posts. It is adapted to stretch and hold wires while they are being stapled or otherwise fastened to a fence-post, and it is also capable of drawing the ends of a broken wire together, so'that they may be connected.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a frame provided with arms arranged at an angle and adapted to receive a fence-post, a pair of lugs mounted on one of the arms and located above and below the frame, and a chain connected with the frame and adapted to engage either of the said lugs, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising an open horizontal frame provided at one end with arms arranged at an angle and adapted to receive a fence-post, a pair of lugs mounted on one of the arms and located at the top and bottom of the frame, a chain connected with the frame and adapted to engage either of the said lugs, a ratchet-bar slidingly mounted on the frame, a check-pawl operatin g between the lugs and engaging the ratchetbar, and an operating-lever provided with means for actuating the ratchet-bar, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising an open horizontal frame provided at one end with arms arranged at an angle and adapted to receive a fence-post, a pair of lugs mounted at one side of the frame, a ratchetbar siidi'ngly mounted on the frame at the other side thereof, a check-pawl operating between the lugsand engaging the ratchet-bar, a chain connected with the frame and adapted to engage either of the lugs, an operating-lever fulcrumed on the frame and extending into the same, and a dog mounted on the inner end of the operating-lever and arranged to actuate the ratchet-bar, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising an open rectangular frame arranged horizontally and provided at one end with arms adapted to receive a fence-post, one of the arms being provided with a lug located at one side of the frame, a ratchet-bar slidingly mounted on the frame at the opposite side thereof and located at the exterior of the adjacent arm, a chain for engaging the lug, a check-pawlfor holding the ratchet-bar against backward movement, and an operating-lever fulcrumed on the frame at one side thereof, extending into the same and provided with a dog arranged to engage the ratchet-bar to actuate the same, substantially as described.

5,. A device of the class described com prising a rectangular frame provided at one side with guide-openings, a ratchet-bar mounted therein, an operating-lever fulcrumed on the other side of the frame, a dog carried by the operating-lever, wire-engaging devices mounted on the frame and on the ratchetbar, a transversely-disposed check pawl or dog engaging the ratchet-bar and supported by the frame, the arms arranged near one of the corners of the frame and adapted to receive a fence-post, and a chain adapted to secure the frame to the post, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY \V. WAGNER.

Witnesses:

HERMAN BREMER, JOHN G. MILLER. 

